Soccer Fan Blog

Okay I admit it – I’m excited about tomorrows game against Wigan. I mean, c’mon, so we’re out of the Champions League, and we’ve no chance of winning the Premier League. It’s still a game of
football and it’s still Arsenal. Who can’t get excited? Call yourself a fan?

Injuries

It looks like Denilson is iffy for tomorrow, and joining the ranks of the terminally injured this season.

First teamer starters out for the rest of the season:

• Fabregas
• Gallas
• Arshavin
• Vermaelen

First Squad players out for the rest of the season:

• Ramsey
• Gibbs
• Djourou

I don’t care what other teams supports say about injuries, NO OTHER TEAM has had as many injuries, or as bad injuries, ALL SEASON LONG. And what’s currently happening is just taking the P.

Team

As to the team it’s anybodys guess – only Wenger really knows. My guess is:

• Almunia
• Sagna, Campbell, Silvestre, Clichy
• Eastmond, Diaby, Nasri
• Rosicky, Bendtner, Van Persie

Bench:  Fabianski, Eboue, Eastmond, Eduardo, Vela, Merida

(scraping the barrel for the bench I’m struggling to put a 7 man bench together)

I think Wenger will play Van Persie from the start for as long as he can last (probably 60-70 minutes) in order to get a lead early – just like we should. Then bring him off or Eduardo.

Wigan

As I keep saying, they’re fighting for their place in the top flight, and even if they weren’t, I think you can expect them to put in their performance of the season (as many teams seem to do
when they play against us).

I don’t mind facing the lumbering brute that is Titus Bramble, but Charles N’Zogbia is not to be sniffed at in a Bendtner-esque way. Chris Kirkland will also probably have the game of his life.
I’m not sure otherwise where the danger’s coming from.

Travel

I couldn’t get a ticket, so I’ll be glued to the telly on Sunday (with the temptation of switching the sound off coz the Sky commentators are biased idiots).

If you are watching in front of the tv or computer, you could do worse than log on to www.ladyarse.com and join in the live blog/chatroom
for the game, cracking fun if you can’t be there.

Pitch

So Wigan, battling for their lives in the Premiership, have had their pitch relaid, and it looks lovely by all accounts. But…. they said that about Wembley a couple of times, and it’s still
rubbish. Plaudits to Wigan for doing it however, because they could have had a clear advantage with the cut-up pitch.

Wigan have beaten Liverpool, Birmingham and Chelsea this season, so although they’ve also been on the receiving end of some real batterings too, they appear to be able to battle to a win when
it matters – and this weekend it matters.

Others

Of course we could do with Man City beating Man Utd today (and oddly Sp*rs beating Chelsea if we harbour any hopes of the premiership title still – personally I think that’s a step too far but
I’m sure a lot of people will begin to hope, if it does happen).

And so, that’s enough for today I think. See y’all tomorrow.